Three Individuals Indicted for Firearms Trafficking
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On January 20, 2021, a federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment charging Carlos Osorio-Pérez, Luz Damaris Pérez-Velázquez and Onyx Yerielle Olivera-Rivera in a conspiracy to obtain firearms in Florida and sell them in Puerto Rico, all without a license. Members of the conspiracy would mail firearms from Florida to Puerto Rico and send thousands of dollars from Puerto Rico to Florida.
United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is in charge of the investigation of the case.
According to the indictment, the conspiracy has been ongoing since June 2019. In the past three months, Mr. Osorio Pérez purchased over twenty-five AR-15 type pistols in Florida. Three packages sent via Priority Mail on December 14 and 15, 2020 from Florida to Puerto Rico contained eleven firearms. Mr. Osorio-Pérez sent messages such as “Puedo dejarte los palos en 950” (I can give you the long guns for $950). Another message read: “Un duro necesita 3 cosas” “Dinero armamento y gente”; “Y somos algo necesario.” (A tough guy needs three things, money, weapons and people. We are needed).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlos R. Cardona and Jonathan L. Gottfried, Chief of the Violent Crimes and National Security Section, are in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendants face up to 10 years in prison for each firearms count.
An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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